ALS Q&A - Dr. Kevin Horton

Gary Barg: Dr. Horton, let’s start
with the basics. What is ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease?

Kevin Horton: In a nutshell, ALS
is a rapidly progressive fatal neurological disease that attacks the
nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles. Eventually,
these motor neurons die and the muscles gradually weaken and waste away.
Also, the ability of the brain to start and control voluntary muscle
movement is lost. Often times, the ability to move is severely limited.
It is a very aggressive disease and unfortunately there is no cure.
There is one treatment, but it is limited in terms of its effectiveness:
it really only prolongs a person’s life on average by about three months ...more

Sudden HospitalizationsBy Sandra Ray, Staff Writer

According to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine and sponsored
by the National Institutes of Health, an elderly
person’s hospitalization can affect the healthy
spouse’s risk of death ...more

Life InterruptedBy Ingrid Silvian

I’m Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help
is the title of a book I read before I understood that the
inability of my daughter’s recognition of her bipolar illness
had much more to do with the resistance to her treatment for
it than anything else ...more

Today's Caregiver
Supports Your Conference

Non-profit Organizations:
Contact us and we will provide complimentary magazines
for your conference attendees.
All you pay is shipping and handling.

Knowing the Warning Signs of a Stroke
Could be the Best Prevention

Stroke is our nation's #3 killer
and our best defense is to recognize the warning signs.
It is possible to decrease your chances of having a
stroke through education and a healthy lifestyle.
Your brain needs blood, oxygen, and nutrients to
function. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that
feeds the brain these vital elements becomes clogged
or bursts. That part of the brain is damaged and will
not work, along with the part of the body it controls.
Transient ischemic attacks, or TIA’s occur before the
onset of a major stroke. They are considered to be a
‘warning stroke’ ...more

CareNotes

From Melinda: My husband was recently diagnosed with MS.
I have always taken care of my sister who is a brittle
diabetic. Now I am researching all sites with MS caregiver
info. Anyone that has info on the beginning of this please
feel free to post suggestions.